Five Historical Sites in Scotland That You Should Visit

Scotland is a country that is drenched in history, which has made it a total hit with tourists. Scottish history was first recorded in the 1st century, and of course, there has been plenty that has happened since, which means there’s plenty of historical sites for you to visit when in Scotland.

Very few people have the time or money to visit all of them in one trip, and with so many sites on offer, it can be tough narrowing down exactly which ones you should visit. To shed some light, we’re discussing some of the best historical sites to visit in Scotland.

Edinburgh Castle is Scotland’s most famous historical site. It attracts around 1.8 million tourists each year, many of whom travel to Scotland simply to visit this castle. The castle is open seven days a week, making it easy to fit a visit there into your busy schedule. It is ideal for all ages, with unique offerings and discounts available if you are visiting with children.

The castle was previously a military base as well as a home for the Royals of that time, up until the late 16th century. When you visit the castle, you can see some historical pieces, belonging to the royals that one lived there, as well as the jails that were once used by the Scottish military. The castle is also home to the ‘National War Museum,’ where you can see memorials for the battles won and lost by the people of Scotland, as well as personal treasures.

If you visit around lunchtime, you could also experience ‘the one o’clock gun,’ this is when a 105mm field gun is shot from the castle. In the past, the castle used to fire a gun from the same spot at 1 pm to alert those at sea what time of the day it was, which allowed them to sail their ships in the right direction.

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Dunrobin Castle dates back to the 1300s and was home to the Dukes of Sutherland for 800 years and before this, the Earls. It has a magnificent 189 rooms, and from this, it’s easy to imagine the sheer size of the castle and gardens. The castle itself and the surrounding gardens are a huge party of the history and a keen spot for any tourist. They are very well kept, and the grounds sit on a hilltop, overlooking the North Sea. The castle indeed has so much to offer, from a museum to Clan collections, Falconry displays, and even tea rooms.

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In the Old Town area of the beautiful Scottish capital, Edinburgh, is The Real Mary King’s Close, one of the most talked about historic sites in Scotland. The mystery and unknown facts are what makes this site so unique. Mary King was a burgess in the Royal Mile and a widow who was left to raise four children by herself. She was said to be residing in the buildings in Alexander King’s Close.

These events took place in the 17th century when things were tough, but Mary continued to run her own business, with young children to care for and no husband to support her. She battled through the troubles she faced and thus made her mark on Scottish history. Having done so, the area was renamed The Real Mary King’s Close after she passed away, and it soon became a hit with visitors, and rightly so.

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The Stirling Castle (located in Stirling, obviously) is one of the most important historical sites in Scotland regarding architecture. Sitting atop the Castle Hill, it is surrounded by cliffs making it an excellent strategic location. The Castle offers some fantastic views of the most epic battlefields of Scottish history, while most of the buildings date back to the 15th and 16th century. Locals will tell you that the Stirling Castle is better than the one in Edinburgh and it is up to you to decide if that’s true!

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Located on the banks of the Linlithgow lake, this ruin of a once magnificent Royal Palace is perfect for a romantic stroll. This palace is also the birthplace of Mary Stewart, Queen of Scots and a favourite retreat of the Stewart dynasty. You can still feel the presence of renaissance royalty still lingering in the now deserted corridors and halls and imagine the splendour of times long gone.

Where to find it

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Luggage storage in Edinburgh with Stasher

It’s a long hike to the Edinburgh Castle! If you want to take a last stroll around the city before you depart or if you are leaving for a day trip store your luggage in Edinburgh with Stasher and soak on the rich Scottish heritage!